March is Women’s history month, Commission on the Status of Women, International day of happiness, World Water day and so on. Here are some highlights from the UN :

International Women’s Day 2018: Secretary General Antonio (SG) Guterres said; “Gender Equality is what women want. It is what I want. It is what every sensible man and boy should want”. During the International Women’s Day celebration, one woman noted that, along with his personal initiative, the SG needs everyone who enters this building(UNHQ) to stand with him and to endorse zero tolerance #UN#MeToo #Time Is Now. At the same time UN Women launched their new Report, turning promises into action: Gender equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development assessing the progress, gaps and challenges in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a gender perspective. While monitoring global and regional trends in achieving …

The highlight of February is the Commission on Social Development with the Theme “Strategies to eradicate Rural Poverty” concluded with 4 policy recommendations integrating many of the Civil society input. MMS gave written as we as an oral statement giving concrete suggestions (copy attached).

Intergovernmental Negotiations on Migration Compact – February 2018: After a yearlong preparation, the Co-chairs came out with a Zero draft for negotiations among 191-member states. By December 2018 it will be adopted in Morocco. Today, virtually all countries in the world are simultaneously countries of destination, origin and transit for international migrants. Traditional migration patterns are complemented by new migratory flows, fueled by Poverty, changing economic, demographic, political and social realities. Changing migration patterns affect the size and composition of migrant populations as well as host and origin economies and societies. The rise in global mobility, the growing complexity of migratory patterns …

New Year brings new hope amidst new challenges. The Secretary General has 12 priorities at the UN and the President of the 72 General Assembly shared the following ,Safe migration, conflict prevention, sustainable development and United Nations reform as the priorities of the 193-member body’s President for 2018.

Global Compact on Migration: Secretariat has produced a report (click on report) as the Secretary-General’s contribution to the process of developing the Global Compact for Migration. It is his vision for constructive international cooperation on migration. It focuses on making migration work for all, emphasizing its links to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2016, world leaders began drafting a new Global Compact on “safe, orderly and regular migration”, to be finalized by September 2018. Numerous meetings are in process before the negotiations in February. Unfortunately USA has pulled out of this too.

World AIDS Day was observed on Dec.1 2017 with the theme: “My health, my right”. Events were held focused on eradicating the AIDS epidemic globally as remarkable progress continues to be made in reducing the amount of people suffering from AIDS/HIV, and medical treatment has become more accessible.

Global Compact on Migration: The UN is in the process of preparing a global compact on regular, safe, and orderly migration. It would protect millions of people’s human rights as they flee persecution, violence, and natural disasters worldwide. International Migrants Day was celebrated on Dec 18 with the theme, “Safe Migration in a World on the Move”. The world counted 258 million people as international migrants in 2017 alone which is 3.4% of the global population. The International Organization for Migration released it’s World Migration Report 2018. To read it, click here: …

Opening of the 72 General Assembly: 12 September 2017: The President of the 72nd UN General Assembly (UNGA), Miroslav Lajčák, outlined the priorities of his mandate during the opening of UNGA 72.’He tweeted “UN was created for people – especially those not sitting in this hall today” It’s the task of #UNGA to make sure their voices are heard. UN reform to be fit for purpose is high priority of the Secretory-General.

June 5-9 one of the Colorful weeks at the UN was the Ocean Conference- to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

A special event was held in the General Assembly Hall to mark World Oceans Day (8 June). The event included statements from world-renowned ocean experts and explorers, representatives from coastal communities, and voices from current and future generations, as well as a performance by Fijian dancers. Marine biologist Sylvia Earle spoke at the event.

There is more awareness about the need for protecting and preserving the Marine environment for our own survival. Deep Sea mining and fishing gee- micro plastics are a great threat not only to the ocean but to the entire ecosystems.